Audiofanzine put the Waldorf Streichfett digital synthesizer to the test. Released earlier this year, the small box is designed to replicate the sound of vintage string machines.
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Surround sound for your unborn baby

Some things can definitely be carried a little too far – Nuvo Group describes their new Ritmo™ Advanced Sound System as “the most advanced and complete prenatal music player, delivering quality and safe sound to the tiniest listeners.”

The Ritmo is basically just that – a harness that straps over the pregnant mother’s abdomen, pumping music (or any other sound) into the uterus via four speakers. There’s a 1/8″ input to plug in an ipod, or anything else with a headphone jack.

Extensive scientific research shows numerous positive contributions of music to human fetal development. Reactive listening begins at 17 weeks, so choose classical music for the calming Mozart Effect, the classic rock of The Beatles, or the upbeat show tunes of Broadway.

… or the soothing sounds of Metallica?

While I can understand their claim that music can beneficial to even unborn babies under certain circumstances, how would you like someone pumping music of their choice into your room, with no ability to change the volume, skip songs, or change the CD?

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The benefits of playing music for your unborn child are up for debate. A fair argument could be made that the sounds of the mother’s heartbeat and voice, which are always available to the baby, are all that nature deemed necessary for proper development. Sure, you can play music for it, but is it going to be somehow “better” than the natural sounds of mother’s speaking or singing voice? Doubtful.

Cacophonous music might even be detrimental. Up until the early 20th century when composer Arnold Schoenberg ushered in a new era of discordant music, this was not an issue. Historically, most every culture created euphonic and harmonically related music as it was considered pleasing to the ear. The screams and shrieks made by animals to cause alarm and alert others to approaching danger are composed of non-musically related overtones. These same non-musical relationships are present in discordant music, certain distortion timbers, harsh noise -such as loud snare drums, cymbals and several kinds of electronic music. These sounds similarly stimulate the same negative emotions: anger, frustration, depression, hatred and fear.

From an purely techno-geek standpoint, I object to any device being labeled as “surround sound” when it only has a two channel input. an 1/8th inch iPod jack doesn’t qualify as anything other than stereo.

Cocky Eek’s Tactile Research Lab has created an art-installation-meets-musical-instrument-meets-organic-weirdness. Called the “Get in Touch” exhibit, it invites the public to create sounds by touching the backs of nude people in an effort to help …